Reversible steam-turbine.



v w. ROHRBAOHER. REVERSIBLE STEAM TURBINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 8, 1912.

Patented A r. 8, 1913.

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cOLUMBlA PLANooizAPH COUWASH W. ROH'RBAGHER. REVERSIBLE STEAM TQRBINE. APPLIOAYTION FILED JULY 8, 1912.

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Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a portion TED s'rnltrns PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM ROHRBACHER, .OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

REVERSIBLE STEAM-TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 1912. Serial N 6. 708,192.

relates to a reversible steam turbine,

and the primary object of my invention is to provide a turbine engine wherein simple and effective means are resorted to for controlling the admission and exhaust of steam to and from the engine, whereby the operation of the engine can be easily and quickly reversed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a turbine engine consisting of comparatively few parts that are inexpensive to manufacture, durable and highly eiiioient for the purposes for which they are intended.

A further-object of this invention is to provide a turbine engine that can be economically operated, the arrangement of the driven elements of the engine being such that the same produce a maximum amount of power from a minimum expenditure of steam.

IVith the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the en gine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional v ew of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the engine. Fig; 4 is a front elevation of a reversing plate. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a feed head. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a similar View taken on the line VIIVII of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a bladed drive wheel.

of the same. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of an exhaust ring adapted to form part of the turbine engine, and Fig. 11 is an edge View of a portion of the same.

In describing my invention by the aid of the drawings above referred to, I desire to slots 21,

- point out that I intend said views as merely Patented Apr. 8, 1913. H

illustrative of an example whereby my in vention may be applied in practice, and I do not limit my claims to the precise arrangement and construction of the parts indicated. The following description is therefore to be construed broadly, arrangement and construction which are the obvious equivalents of those shown.

The drawings show a bed plate 1 having the ends thereof provided with A frames 2 as including substitute :5

supporting bearings 3 for a driven shaft 4. 3

Arranged upon thebed plate 1 are angle supports 5 for a turbine casing, comprising front end rear sections 6 and 7. The sections 6 and 7 are cylindrical and the edges thereof flanges 8 adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured together. The sections 6 and 7 of the casing have alining stuffing boxes 9 provided with suitable packing 10 and glands confronting are provided with peripheral 11 that are suitably secured to the outer sides of said sections. The driven shaft 4 extends through the stufling boxes 9 and the glands 11 longitudinally of the sectional turbine casing.

The casing section 6 has annular interior 5 I shoulders 12 and 13 and mounted in the section 6 against the shoulder 12 is a stationary feed head 14 having a longitudinal bore 15 and a neck 16 that engages the flat wall of the casing section 6. The feed head i i 14 is provided with two diametrically opposed sets of angularly disposed ports 17 and 18, the ports 17 being disposed in the same direction and at a reverse angle to the ports 18. This construction is best shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive.

Arranged in the section 60f the casing against the annular-shoulder 13, is a rotatable reversing plate 19 having a central opening 20 16 of the feed head 14. The rotatable reversing plate 20 has diametrically opposed slots 21 and these slots are adapted to alternately register with the ports 17 and 18.

1'0V1CllI1 clearance for the neck The edge of the plate 19, intermediate the 1 1S provided with an open slot 22 and extending into said slot is the crank 23 of a shaft 24 that is movably mounted in the flat walls of the section 6, said shaft having the outer end thereofprovided with a lever 25. By rotating the shaft 24, the reversing plate 19 can be shifted.

The top of the section 6 hasa steam inlet port 26 and connected to the top of said secextending through the feed head, a bladed wheel carried by said hub and adapted to be revolved by steam discharged from said feed head, and an exhaust ring mounted in said casing and having exhaust ports formed 70 therein of greater size than the spaces between the blades of said wheel.

2. In a turbine engine, a casing, a steam inlet and exhaust pipe in communication with said casing, a revoluble shaft extending 75 through said casing longitudinally thereof,

a feed head mounted in said casing and having sets of ports formed therein with one set of ports disposed at a reverse angle to the other set of ports, a slotted reversing 30 plate movably mounted in said casing mounted upon and movable against said feed head and controlling the admission of steam to the ports of said feed head, a hub fixed to said shaft and extending through said feed head, a crank shaft extending through the front wall of said casing for shifting said reversing plate, a bladed wheel fixed relatively to said shaft and adapted to be revolved by steam discharged from said 90 feed head, and an exhaust ring arranged in said casing and having exhaust ports of larger area than the spaces between the blades of said wheel.

3. In a turbine engine, a casing provided 95 with steam supply and exhaust inlets,

a revoluble shafting through said casing,

a feed head mounted in said casing and having sets of ports, the ports of one set disposed at a reverse angle with re- 100 spect to the ports of the other set, a slotted reversing plate movably mounted in said casing and upon and against said head and controlling admission of steam to the ports of the head, means capable of engag- 105 ing said plate for shifting it, a hub carried by and moving with said shaft, a bladed wheel fixed to said hub and having said head extending thereinto and adapted to be revolved by steam discharged from said 110 head, and an exhaust ring surrounding said hub and having exhaust portsof larger area than the spaces between the blades of said wheel, said exhaust ring extending into said wheel. 11

4. In a turbine engine, a casing provided with steam supply and exhaust inlets, a revoluble shaft extending through said casing, a feed head mounted in said casing and having sets of ports, the ports of one set dis- 12' posed at a reverse angle with respect to the ports of the other set, a slotted reversing plate movably mounted in said casing and upon and against said head and controlling admission of steam to the ports of the head, 12 means capable of engaging said plate for shifting it, a hub carried by and moving with said shaft, a bladed wheel fixed to said hub and having said head extending thereinto and adapted to be revolved by steam 15 tion is a steam supply pipe 27. The steam from this pipe can pass into the section 6, through the slots 21 into the ports 17 or 18 of the feed head l t.

5 Mounted upon the shaft 4: within the turbine casing is a hub 28 that extends into the bore 15 of the feed head 14:. The hub 28 has a peripheral flange 29 and suitably mounted upon said flange is a bladed drive wheel 30.

This wheel has closely arranged radially disposed blades 31 and the confronting faces or edges of said blades are provided with longitudinal grooves or flutes 32, thereby providing openings 33 between the blades 31. The blades 31 are set in from the faces of the Wheel 30, and the feed head 14 has an annular offset portion 34 extending into the wheel 30. A packing ring 35 is countersunk in the face of the feed head 14: and bears against the peripheral flange 23 of the hub 28, thereby sealing the connection between the feed head and the flange 29.

Mounted in the section 7 of the turbine casing is an exhaust ring 36, said ring having an annular ofiset portion 37 that extends into the face of the wheel 30. The exhaustring 36 is provided with radially disposed exhaust ports 38. The ports 38 are shaped similar to the openings 33 between the blades 31 of the drive-wheel, but are of a greater size than the openings 33, whereby steam can be rapidly exhausted from the ring 36.

The bottom of the casing section 7 is pro- 5 vided with an exhaust port 39 in communication with an exhaust pipe 10.

In the operation of the turbine, steam is discharged between the blades 31 of the drive-wheel 30, causing said drive-wheel to 40 revolve and impart a rotary movement to the shaft t. As the openings 33 of the drive-wheel register with the exhaust ports 38.0f the exhaust ring 36, the steam exhausts into the casing section 7 and escapes through the exhaust pipe lO. By manipulating the shaft 24:, the reversing plate 19 can be shifted, whereby a set of the ports 17 or 18 will be brought into use for operating the engine in a desired direction.

What I claim is 1. In a turbine engine, a casing having a steam inlet port and a steam exhaust port, a revoluble shaft extending through said casing longitudinally thereof, a stationary feed head mounted in said casing and having sets of angularly disposed inlet ports formed therein with one set of said ports disposed at an angle the reverse of the other set of said ports, a slotted reversing plate mounted upon said feed head and movable within said casing relatively to said feed head and adapted to be shifted to control the admission of steam to one or the other of said sets of ports in said feed head, a hub mount- 55 ed upon said shaft within said casing and discharged from said head, an exhaust ring In testimony whereof I affix my signature surrourj filiilg said hull; and having kexhaust in the presence of tWo Witnesses. ports 0 ar er area 0 an the spaces etween the blades o f said Wheel said exhaust ring WILLIAM ROHRBACHER' extending into said Wheel, and a packing Witnesses:

ring carried by one side of said head and RUTH B. SMITH, abutting against said hub. H. E. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

